FIDM Magazine

FIDM Graphic Design Students Develop Unique SPIRIT Campaign "Stunt"

 

 

Lionsgate Films selected nine art and design schools across the United States to design local advertising campaigns for their upcoming film The Spirit.

Students Alex Kapustin, Lesley Leong, Martha Walker, and Hector De Leon from FIDM's Graphic Design department were inspired by the construction happening in Downtown L.A. They created a 20' x 30' hanging banner which incorporates a crane that will hold the piece aloft and viewable from Interstate 10 until midnight tonight. The banner will then be on display in the FIDM lobby. --Kim

Pictured: FIDM Students making the original presentation  to Lionsgate FIlms, the actual banner located at 1020 S. Figueroa Street, The Spirit website.

FIDM Alumni Holiday Dinner & Silent Auction

This year's ultra-glamorous Holiday Alumni Dinner & Silent Auction was our most buzz-worthy alumni event yet. Held at chic new L.A. hot spot The London Hotel in West Hollywood, the dinner was catered by "Hell's Kitchen" chef Gordon Ramsay. Over 200 grads, staff, and faculty were in attendance. Raffle and silent auction prizes, including a Chloe bag (pictured above) and a L.A.M.B. bag signed by Gwen Stefani, raised money for the FIDM Scholarship Foundation.

"This year's event was our most exciting ever," enthused Nathalie Holtzman, FIDM Alumni Relations Director. "It was incredible to see all these amazingly talented people under one roof--from FIDM Alumni who graduated in 1971 to those who graduated last year, as well as the people who started the college, like Toni Hohberg, FIDM's founder, and Mary Stephens, the first Department Chair for the Fashion Design Department. From beginning to end it was beyond all my expectations!"

Visit the Alumni Association site for more information on FIDM's Alumni program and award-winning Alumni newsletter, as well as The Buzz on our Grads! --Kim

CALIFORNIA APPAREL NEWS Declares Lhuillier a 2008 Newsmaker

We're used to seeing FIDM Fashion Design Grad Monique Lhuillier in the headlines, so it comes as no surprise that California Apparel News would feature the designer on the cover of its 2008 Newsmakers issue! Here's an excerpt:

Lhuillier, who launched her eponymous brand in 1996 with a bridal collection, has added ready-to-wear, a handbag collection, a retail store on tony Melrose Place in Los Angeles and the beginnings of a tableware line to her list of accomplishments. Her designs—often featured in glossy magazine spreads, on regulars on the red carpet and on the runways during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York—are among California’s most visible contributions to the world of high fashion.

Congrats to Monique and her team! -- Victoria

FIDM Students Awarded Scholarships from Cotton, Inc.

 
 
Congratulations to FIDM Merchandise Marketing Student Isaiah Garza and some of his fellow students who were awarded scholarship funds in the Cotton Inc. Scholarship Competition.

Isaiah Garza was awarded a $10,000 scholarship for his Alaskan wedding theme in the "Wedding of Cotton" category. The wedding dress was modeled by Miss Alaska USA 2008. Group winners of the $15,000 scholarship in the category "An Evening of Cotton" were Kimisha Renee Davis, evening dress, Lillian Babaian, accessories, and Lori Millonzi, shoes, for their Asian-Egyptian inspired theme.  The recipient of the $5,000 scholarship for the "Most Innovative Use of Cotton" was Jose Andres Alves-Aranibar who created a punk and rock & roll Las Vegas wedding theme. 

"This competition launched in August and engaged the students for four months," explains FIDM Special Projects Coordinator, Jennifer McEvers. "The students were mentored by FIDM Staff and Faculty and were challenged to research a consumer, create a theme, design products, test and validate their fiber and fabrics, manage a budget, and present their inspiration to a panel of industry judges."

Read our interview with Isaiah Garza here. --Kim

Eco-Friendly Grads Help Make Green the New Black

The eco-friendly Green Movement is in full swing and FIDM Alumni are doing their part to contribute to the health of our planet. In June, Interior Design and International Manufacturing & Product Development Grad James Saavedra, who was a designer on the second season of TLC's Clean Sweep and writes the Décor Fellow blog, and his partner Kelly LaPlante launched JAK a new Art Deco- and Hollywood Regency-inspired handcrafted furnishings line with an environmentally sustainable twist.

"Our motivation is that when we took a look at the existing green furniture available to designers we recognized there was something missing," says James. "I believe it is imperative, now more than ever, for us to take a good hard look at our habits and how they are effecting the world in which we live."

One of the first FIDM Graduates to work in the green industry, Alison K. Pollack, started Earth Friendly Interior Design the same year she graduated, with a goal of creating a healthier environment by using alternative materials. (Pictured at right, one of Alison Pollack's interiors.)

“For the first time there is a connection being made between planet sustainability, health issues with chemical overload, and climate change,” says Alison, who also designs Suite Baby, an organic nursery line. “The amazing sense of gratification that the contribution I made, no matter how great or small, preserves something greater than myself.”

Other FIDM Alumni are also making waves in the movement. Fashion Design Grad Karen Kananen founded Raw Earth & Wild Sky, a sustainable style company that features handmade clothing. Based in L.A., the eco-friendly label uses 100% organic cotton and low impact dyes.

Fellow Fashion Design Alumni and friends Rebecca Eliason and Debra Weaver launched Re-Dewin, a line of recycled vintage clothing, this year. (Pictured at left, a vintage look from Re-Dewin.) And this year, Product Development Graduate Tika Shenghur ‘04 launched Teek Design Studios, a line of creative and contemporary green stationery.

FIDM Museum & Galleries To Participate in Downtown Art Walk This Thursday

This year, the FIDM Museum & Galleries is a stop on the December Los Angeles Downtown Art Walk on Thursday, December 11th, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Busses will take shoppers from the main area of the Art Walk (all info is on the Art Walk site) to FIDM and bring them back again.

Of course, you can come directly to FIDM and buy "Art To Wear" from two faculty artists and two alumni artists.

The artists participating at the FIDM Museum & Galleries are:

• Robin Wagner, FIDM Faculty, with her line of Suicide Kings men's sweaters.
• Sharon Cohen, FIDM Faculty, with her line of Bicron Design hand-loomed scarves and shawls.
• Claudia Grau, FIDM Alumna, with her line of Grau Designs recycled cashmere sweaters.
• Joe Viboonviriyawong, FIDM Alumnus, with his line of Vilaiwan exquisite semi-precious hand-made jewelry (seen above.)

The Art Walk takes place monthly every second Tuesday, but this is the only time you can come to The FIDM Musuem & Galleries and view and purchase the work of FIDM Faculty and Grads.

Directions to the FIDM Museum & Galleries, on the FIDM Los Angeles Campus, are here.--Belissa

FIDM Footwear Design Program Grads' Shoe Featured in December Vogue Magazine

Success!

The model in the photo at left is wearing a pair of sandals designed by FIDM Footwear Design Program Grads Cherise Angelle and Nicole LaFave from their Omelle (ähm' elle) line. 

Here's a snippit from their site:

"Amidst illustrations, scrap fabrics and inspiration boards at LA's prestigious Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, two shoe-obsessed designers discovered a common interest—luxury footwear with a distinct and imaginative voice."

Sounds like they'll have some interesting things to say in that voice! --Belissa

Grammy Museum Launches in Downtown L.A.

The new 30,000 square foot Grammy Museum at L.A. Live opens on Monday in the Entertainment District of Downtown Los Angeles, just two blocks from FIDM's Los Angeles campus. I checked out the  museum this morning at the press launch and it features incredible memorabilia from just about every genre of music and will host nighttime performances from emerging and established artists. Slated to be a destination spot for tourists visiting the city, the museum will also offer educational workshops and more for schools and the Los Angeles community at large. --Kim

FIDM Bachelor of Science Grad Enters Ph.D. Program

FIDM Graduate Celine Yalenkatian, who received her AA degree in Visual Communications in June, 2004 and completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Management at FIDM in Fall 2007, has successfully completed her Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and has been accepted into the Ph.D. program at Alliant University. --Kim

Holiday Trunk Show on FIDM's Los Angeles Campus

 
Looking for unique gifts this holiday season? Don't miss our Annual Holiday Alumni Trunk Show & Sample Sale featuring gorgeous jewelry, clothing, home decor, and more designed by FIDM Graduates. The event takes place at our FIDM Los Angeles Campus on Wednesday, December 3, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. --Kim